About Us

CHAMPIONS was founded by Dr. Leigh Ann O’Banion (UCSF-Fresno) and is an initiative of the Foundation to Advance Vascular Cures (Vascular Cures), which is a leading national non-profit committed to creating better vascular systems for everyone. Tens of millions of individuals are affected by vascular disease, and everyone is at risk; we exist to change this. Vascular Cures advances ground-breaking patient-centered vascular research and promotes outreach and patient engagement in health, and is dedicated to community outreach and prevention to improve patient outcomes and eliminate health inequities. We began over 40 years ago, with the vision of a community of vascular stakeholders wanting to improve patient outcomes. We have worked with patients across the vascular disease spectrum, including on acute, chronic, and rare conditions that benefit greatly from engaged patients.

Our educational activities include educational flyers, a Patients are Partners program that includes administration of a patient support platform of over 3000 users, interactive educational modules for patients, and curriculum development for community-based preventative care and disease management. Our research activities include supporting the prestigious Wylie Scholar Award for early career patient-centered vascular research and translational health projects that have near-term impact on patient outcomes. We focus on innovative initiatives that create systemic change and prioritize patient and caregiver voices in all that we do. Dr. Leigh Ann O’Banion serves on the Board of Vascular Cures as its Medical Director; Dr. Michael Conte, Co-Director of the UCSF Heart and Vascular Center and Chief of the Division of Vascular & Endovascular Surgery. The CEO is Isabel Bjork, JD.

Initially piloted in agricultural communities in California’s San Joaquin Central Valley and later expanded to the East Bay (San Francisco Area), the CHAMPIONS developed out of UCSF-Fresno.